Tin windup toy of "Ham and Sam The Minstrel Team"

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Tin windup toy depicting two African American musicians; one figure plays the banjo while the other figure remains seated and plays the piano. The piano and chair that the pianist sits in have painted images of caricatured African Americans. The sheet music on the piano reads [DIXIE BLUES] at the top of each sheet. A tasseled blanket illustration drapes over the top of the piano and has black lettering which features prominently on the front of the piano. The text reads [HAM AND SAM/"THE MINSTREL TEAM"/TRADE MARK]. The banjo player, standing to the right of the piano player, is wearing red and white checkered pants, a green jacket with white and red trim, and a yellow top hat. The piano player is wearing a faded red and green outfit, with a red and green cap. A white sticker on the back of the piano in the bottom left corner reads, [LAST WOUND-UP/$650].

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